1. MLAW358U The Politics Of Immigration Law
Answers:
Introduction
America has been one of the top destination countries in the globe in which many people
have been targeting to reside in the country since ancient times. Various forms of
documentations were used for entry in which the individuals who had various documents
to use and enter into the country. The migration of people into the USA experienced an
influx of immigrants into the country especially from German and China. The mid-
19th century was regarded as a period of great change as many immigrants from European
countries. The various migrants who came into the country came for various duties and
operations which was deemed as an important opportunity through which they can
increase their income and be able to engage in various activities in the society. the country
became a top destination among migrants from various countries across the globe who
viewed USA as a region of potential in which they would be able to increase their operations
and stand a chance to get better opportunities. The early 19th century was a period in
which it was not mandatory to have documentations to be able to travel into the country as
illegal migrants used different routes to enter the country as evident in the way in which a
lot of migrants particularly from China sneaked into the country through illegal routes. This
report will detail how primary source documents were used for entering into the country.
Primary Source Document
America was regarded as a top destination to many individuals due to the fact that the
country advocated for sound, health and safe nationality and in which the interests of many
people were protected with minimal discrimination being allowed in the country. It was as
a result of the country having a sound development plan in which all people were accorded
equal rights that many people developed interest to come into the country and settle there
hence contributing to an influx of migrants from different regions who came into the
country for various reasons (Gerber and David 2008).
The primary source documents that were used for migration into the country included
photographs, diaries, speeches, government documents and newspaper articles. Through
incorporating these documents and other writings, they facilitated capturing of diverse
2. experiences that migrants into the USA went through and also they provided an opportunity
through which the journey of migrants can be analyzed and an understanding be developed
on what they experienced when they were moving into the country. It is also an opportunity
to reflect on the genesis of formalizing immigration documentations and what milestone
has been achieved so far with regards to developing documents used for legalizing
travelling into the country (Montgomery 1995).
In an attempt to control migration into the country, a bill was introduced in the senate in
January 16th 1902 in which it sought to prohibit and regulate immigration into the USA, its
territories and all territories such as Columbia by limiting people of Chinese origin from
coming into the territories. Section 2 of the bill stated that after the passage of the bill, no
Chinese were to be allowed into the country including Chinese laborers who were seen as a
threat to the democracy of the country.
The use of various documents described above as primary source documents were used to
provide tangible evidence of the origin of the migrant and also ascertain on whether they
can be able to read and write. The migrants were offered an opportunity to write and
describe themselves hence they were able to stand a chance to be considered for entry into
the country. The use of documents such as the photographs was meant to provide the
immigration office with a glimpse of the migrant who has entered the country and keep
track of their operations in the country by using their picture as primary source document
that can be used to trace him in case they have been involved on any unethical practices in
the country (Stumpf and Juliet 2011).
The prohibitions that was imposed to Chinese was as a result of the perception that China
was putting a vastly inferior civilization in competition with the USA and they were
determined to destroy the US population in which perpetuity of free government depended
on. In order to protect the civilization of USA, the country labelled Chinese migrants into the
country as being harmful and therefore, there was need to limit their entry into the country
by requiring Chinese too undergo various assessments that were meant to limit them from
entering the country. Chinese were regarded as a threat to the USA and therefore, there was
a need to ensure that they are able to be limited from entering into the country. The law
limited great number of immigrants into the country and as a result, the country thought
that there was a need to ensure that they are controlled and limited from entering the
country.
Conclusion
Source documents were used to ensure that they control entry of people into USA at a time
when Chinese were regarded as a threat to the democracy of the USA. This led to
introduction and emphasis of these source documents so as to ensure that they do not
create havoc into the country such as posing a threat to the country democracy. Therefore,
source documents were used to limit entry into the country by limiting the number and
3. origin of those who were allowed to enter the country.
Reference
Gerber, David A. Authors of their lives: The personal correspondence of British immigrants
to North America in the nineteenth century. NYU Press, 2008.
Montgomery, David. Citizen worker: The experience of workers in the United States with
democracy and the free market during the nineteenth century. Cambridge University Press,
1995.
Stumpf, Juliet P. "Designing Populations: Lessons in Power and Population Production from
Nineteenth-Century Immigration Law." Vand. L. Rev. En Banc 64 (2011): 29.
